Diggers in Bathhurst were trying to come to terms with the
desecration of their war memorial overnight.

The diggers, who had been looking forward to the dawn service,
said they were brought to tears after five teenaged girls had
allegedly painted "ANZAC murderers" and "Aussies don't fight" on
Bathurst's Carillion War Memorial.

The war veterans, along with many others, were forced to
work through the night to clean up the memorial in time for the
dawn service.

The five girls were arrested.

Sergeant Andrew Holland told smh.com.au police were called to
the memorial after reports that "hoodlums" had covered the sacred
site with highly offensive graffiti.

"Police arrived a short time later and observed that they had
painted approximately one metre high, [beige coloured] slogans all
the way around the exteriors of the war memorial using words such
as "ANZAC murderers" and "Aussies don't fight" along with peace
symbols," he said.

"They've then taken the remnants of the four-litre paint cans
and splashed these on the doors and external steps of the war
memorial."

When the teenagers were tracked down by police, some were
allegedly still covered in paint.

The group, aged between 15 and 17, were arrested and taken to
Bathurst police station, he said.

A 17-year-old was charged with two counts of malicious damage,
break, enter and steal and offensive conduct.

She is due to appear at Bathurst Children's Court on May 28.

"The other four juveniles are going through the juvenile
cautioning process where a determination of police action will be
made by the local youth liaison officer," Mr Holland said.

More than 30 people, including members of the military, Fire
Brigades and local council, worked through the night to remove the
graffiti before this morning's ANZAC Day dawn service, he said.

Bill Abbot, president of the Bathurst RSL sub-branch, said he
was horrified by the "garbage" that had been left on the
memorial.

"Absolutely devastated. I was in tears. It was really hard to
believe. Everybody was devastated of course," the 60-year-old
Vietnam veteran said.

"It's very hard to comprehend really. I think that once the
perpetrators sobered up, they would probably be ashamed as
well."

He said he was heartened by the community's efforts to clean up
the site.

"The NSW Fire Brigade and the local army were terrific. Fair
dinkum, everyone just jumped in and give us a hand. It was really
community spirit."

Jim MeFerran, honorary secretary of the Bathurst RSL sub-branch,
said he wanted the alleged offenders to be required to meet war
veterans and war veteran widows to understand what ANZAC Day is all
about.

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